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Friday, May 17, 2013

Greece Outlaws Teachers Strike

The Greek
government has outlawed a teachers strike set to begin on May 17. The
government signed a civil mobilization order banning the strike, something that
previously had only been used in times of national emergencies, according the WSWS. This is the first time the tactic
has been used preemptively before a strike has even started. Workers who
violate the order are subject to being fired, arrested and jailed.

Since the
imposition of austerity in 2008, the Greek government has relied on such heavy
handed tactics to crush any opposition and keep the public in line. Civil
mobilization orders, with the support of riot police, were used to violently
suppress strikes by subway, rail and tram workers earlier this year. The
teachers’ strike ban follows the Greek government’s latest deal with the
European Commission, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Central
Bank, attacking teachers’ pay and benefits, and working conditions (including
the demand they work an extra two hours per week without pay). 10,000 teachers
also face being laid off, according to the WSWS.

Looked at in
isolation, the strike ban in Greece seems like an autocratic attack on
democratic rights, which it is. However, similar events are taking place
throughout Europe and elsewhere, indicating a concerted effort by governments
to extract concessions and givebacks on behalf of an employing class that wants
everyone but themselves to pay for their economic crisis. In Denmark, for
example, 70,000 teachers were recently locked
out for resisting attacks
on their working conditions, while teachers in Mexico
and public sector workers in Turkey have
been accused of terrorism and imprisoned for similar resistance. In the U.S.
teachers strikes are banned in many states, while Michigan Governor Rick Snyder
has used the state to take over several school districts and impose dictatorial
financial managers with the power to remove unions and fire elected officials.